Paint brush construction



y 3; 1965 B. MYERS ETAL 3,193,863

PAINT BRUSH CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 5, 1963 BERNARD MU 52s andINVENTORS.

I Gt'ORGg L. CAMARERO A TTORNE Y,

and so on.

United States Patent 3,193,863 PAINT BRUSH CONSTRUCTION Bernard Myers,Surbiton, Surrey, England, and George L. Camarero, Jackson Heights, LongIsland, N.Y.; said Camarero assignor to American Flange & ManufacturingCo. Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 5, 1963,Ser. No. 366,882 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-169) This invention relates toimprovements in paint brushes and the like and is particularly concernedwith brushes of the type used by artists.

One of the deficiencies in the common artists paint brush resides in thefact that although the handle and ferrule components thereof may lastindefinitely, the actual life of the brush is severely limited by therelative frailty of the bristles themselves. Furthermore a variety ofbrushes is commonly required to be used by artists working on paintings.A number of factors contribute to this variation, such as, the lengthand texture of bristle desired, the size and shape of the bristle knot,the type of paint to be used, the surface being painted upon Whereseparate brushes are used for each change, this calls for a substantialamount of duplication in the handle and ferrule components employed.with the various brushes. Inasmuch as a substantial portion of the costof a brush is consumed by the handle and ferrule components thereof,this duplication represents a substantial waste in terms of consumereconomy.

Although brush designs embodying the concept of interchangeability havebeen proposed, none so far brought forth have been sufiicientlypractical to provide a satisfactory answer to the problem. The brush ofthe instant invention, however, embodies a very simple and compactconstruction providing for interchangeability of the bristle knot aswell as adjustment of the bristle length torsuit ones particular needsby an arrangement whereby the bristles may be propelled or repelledrelative to the handle and ferrule. Further, the useful life of thebristle knot. itself is greatly extended through the use of the instantinvention since once the worn end of the bristles is trimmed, they maybe readjusted to restore their desired length.

It is accordingly a principal object of the invention to provide a newand improved paint brush.

Another object is to provide such a brush having replaceable andinterchangeable bristle knots.

A further object is to provide such a brush wherein the bristles may bepropelled and repelled relative to the ferrule component thereof foradjustment and replacement purposes.

A still further object is to provide a paint brush construction havingadjustable and interchangeable bristles while employing a minimum numberof parts.

Further and more detailed objects of the invention will in part beobvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing proceeds:

In that drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a paint brush embodying the main featuresof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the brush.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken through the ferrulewith the bristles adjusted to an intermediate position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ferrule in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preferred form of bristle knot inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the bristle knot taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sect-ion showing a modifiedconnecting means between the handle and bristle knot.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the invention in its illustratedpreferred embodiment seen in FIG. 1 comprises the generally indicatedbasic elements of a handle 1, a ferrule 2 and a bristle knot 3. Althoughit is presently contemplated that the handle and ferrule elements of thebrush be manufactured of molded synthetic plastic material, theinvention is not to be construed as limited thereto since othermaterials or combination of materials including wood and metal, could beemployed if so desired. In the exploded showing of FIG. 2, it can beseen that the handle 1 is provided near the brush end thereof with athread formation 4, which extends along the handle for a distance andterminates at its free end in an outwardly facing surface 4a. Extendingoutwardly from the surface 4a is a shaft 5 of reduced section whichterminates in a bulbous portion 6.

The bristle knot 3, as here shown, is made up of relatively longbristles '7 which are embedded at their inner ends in a block ofsynthetic plastic resin 8. The resin 8, of which a non-limiting exampleis the epoxy family,

is of such characteristics that it tightly and permanently bonds thebristles into a knot. The block of resin 8 is itself formed with a hard,smooth side bearing surface 9 and a free end surface lit. The verticalcross sectional area of the resin block 8 is slightly greater than thatof the bristles 7 so that a ledge 10a is formed exteriorly of thebristles where they connect with the block.

Formed interiorly of the resin block 8 is a cavity 11 which opens intothe bearing surface 9 at 12 and the end surface 16 at 13. The cavity 11is substantially the same size as the bulbous portion 6 with the opening12 thereinto being of a corresponding dimension so that the bulbousportion 6 can be inserted in the cavity 11 assuming the positionillustrated in FIG. 3. The size of the opening 13 in the end surface 10,however, is such as to snugly receive the shaft 5 but to prevent thebulbous portion 6 from being withdrawn therethrough. Thus it can be seenthat the brush handle can be connected to the bristle knot simply bypressing the bulbous portion 6 laterally into the opening 12 whereby thebulbous portion 6 becomes seated within the cavity 11 with the shaft 5extending through the reduced opening 13 in the end surface 19.

The ferrule 2 of the brush assembly, shown particularly in FIGS. 3 and4, is provided with a cylindrical portion 14 and a flattened tubularportion 15 extending therefrom. An intermediate inwardly inclinedportion 16 connects the sides of the flattened tubular portion 15 withthe cylindrical portion 14. A thread formation 17 is formed on theinterior surface of the cylindrical portion 14 and extends from the freeend 18 thereof to the commencement at 19 of the inclined portion 16, seeFIG. 4. As seen in FlG. 3 the parts of the brush are so dimensioned thatthe handle portion 4 threadedly engages the interior surface 17 of theferrule whereby longitudinal movement of the handle within the ferrulecan be imparted thereto by relative rotation of the handle with respectto the ferrule. The shaft 5 extends within the flattened tubular portion15 where it remains engaged with the bristle knot 3. The block 8 fitsslidably and snugly within the flattened portion 15 and is limited inits outward movement by the abutment of the ledge 10a against the innersurface of the inturned lip 20 which surrounds the opening 21.

In operation, a bristle knot is first snapped onto the handle with thebulbous portion 6 engaged within the cavity 11 as above described. Thebristles are then inserted within the ferrule 2 at the end 18. Thedesired effective length of the bristles can then be adjusted byrotating the handle relative to the ferrule. In fully extended position,

the surface a of the block 8 will abut the inturned lip thereby limitingfurther outward movement, Also the V threaded portion 4 of the handlewould be prevented from further outward movement upon reaching the line19a.

it can be snapped into the cavity 26 in the block 8. Again in thisarrangement the handle can be snapped into or out i of the bristle knot13 f-orreplacement thereof'but Will remain connected duringjnormalmovement Within .the ferrule 2. ,7

Althoughthe brush herein disclosediis designedprimarily as a paintbrush, it is of course not necessarily limited thereto. The novelfeatures of V the invention would apply to any brush where bristle wearis a factor and replacement or adjustability of bristle length would bedesirable. The bare minimum number of parts employed plus the simplicityof the various parts themselves,

renders the brus'n'of the invention a practical solution to.

the above mentioned problems.

Since numerous variations and modifications of the M brush constructionherein shown and described will readily suggest themselves to thoseskilled inthe art, it is to be understood that changes may be made inthe construction described and shown andvarious embodiments of theinvention can be made without departing from the scope It isaccordingly'intended that all matter conthereof. tained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described our invention what we claim is new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A paint brush of the type having replaceable bristles comprising anelongated handle member, an integralportion of reduced cross sectionextending longitudinally from one end of said handle member andterminating in a free 'end, said free end having circumferentiallyenlarged engaging means integrally formed therewith, an external threadformation located adjacent said one end, a bristle knot including a bodyof bristles adhesively bound to gether at their butt ends in a hardenedmass of synthetic plastic resin, said mass having laterally engageablereceiving means integrally formed therein rotatably interlocked withsaid engaging means, said interlock preventing relaa w 4 tivelongitudinal displacement of said handle and bristle knot, a one pieceferrule having an internally threaded cylindrical portion and ,aflattened tubular portion of reduced cross section extendinglongitudinally from said cylindrical portion, said oneend of said handlemember threadedlyengaged within said cylindrical ferrule portion withsaid resin mass slideably and nonrotatably engaged within said flattenedtubular ferrule portion so that relative rotation between said handleand ferrule causes said bristles to be propelled or retracted relativeto said ferrule.

2. A paint brush of the type having replaceable bristlescomprisinganfelongated handle member, an integral portion of reduced,cross section extending longitudinally from one end of said handlememberand terminating in a free end, saidfree-end having circumferentiallyenlarged engaging meansintegrally formed therewith, an external threadformation locatedadjacent said one end, a bristle knot including a bodyof bristles adhesively bound tol gether at their'butt ends inga hardenedmass of synthetic plastic re'sin,'said mass having an end wall anda sidewall, a cavity integrally formed within said resin mass, said cavityhaving interconnected openings in said end wall and said side wallrespectively, said opening in said end wall-being slightly smallerthansaid engaging means, said opening in said side wall being slightlylarger than said engaging means, thereby allowing said handle engagingmeans to be inserted laterally into said resin'mass while precludingrelative longitudinal displacement of said handle jand bristle knot, aone piece ferrule having an internally threaded cylindricalportion and aportion of reduced cross section extending from said cylindricalportion, said one 'end of said handle member threadedly engaged withinsaid cylindrical ferrule portion with said side wall of said massslideably and nonrotatably engaged within said ferrule so that relativerotation between said handle and ferrule causes said bristles to bepropelled or retracted relative to ,saidferrule;

v References Cited by the Examiner UNITEDSTAT ES PATENTS CHARLES A.WILLMUTH, Prim ary Examiner.

1. A PAINT BRUSH OF THE TYPE HAVING REPLACEABLE BRISTLES COMPRISING ANELONGATED HANDLE MEMBER, AN INTEGRAL PORTION OF REDUCED CROSS SECTIONEXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY FROM ONE END OF SAID HANDLE MEMBER ANDTERMINATING IN A FREE END, SAID FREE END HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIALLYENLARGED ENGAGING MEANS INTEGRALLY FORMED THEREWITH, AN EXTERNAL THREADFORMATION LOCATED ADJACENT SAID ONE END, A BRISTLE KNOT INCLUDING A BODYOF BRISTLES ADHESIVELY BOUND TOGETHER AT THEIR BUTT ENDS IN A HARDENEDMASS OF SYNTHETIC PLASTIC RESIN, SAID MASS HAVING LATERALLY ENGAGEABLERECEIVING MEANS INTEGRALLY FORMED THEREIN ROTATABLY INTERLOCKED WITHSAID ENGAGING MEANS, SAID INTERLOCK PREVENTING RELATIVE LONGITUDINALDISPLACEMENT OF SAID HANDLE AND BRISTLE KNOT, A ONE PIECE FERRULE HAVINGAN INTERNALLY THREADED CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND A FLATTENED TUBULARPORTION OF REDUCED CROSS SECTION EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY FROM SAIDCYLINDRICAL PORTION, SAID ONE END OF SAID HANDLE MEMBER THREADEDLYENGAGED WITHIN SAID CYLINDRICAL FERRULE PORTION WITH SAID RESIN MASSSLIDEABLY AND NONROTATABLY ENGAGED WITHIN SAID FLATTENED TUBULAR FERRULEPORTION SO THAT RELATIVE ROTATION BETWEEN SAID HANDLE AND FERRULE CAUSESSAID BRISTLES TO BE PROPELLED OR RETRACTED RELATIVE TO SAID FERRULE.